Diversity : Featured Stories

Innovation and growth in Baltimore are good things. This much is clear. That doesn't mean, however, there won't be problems. As the city and its people continue to forge a path into the future, we will more and more be faced with a question: what kind of city do we want to be?

"What would our city be like if each of us walked through our neighborhoods and our places of work seeing a spark of the divine in the face of each person we encounter?" So wonders Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg, for whom the key to Baltimore's future is an embrace of the best religion has to offer.

There are two kinds of progress in a place like Baltimore. There's obvious stuff like development business growth -- these are easy to see. Then there's the less obvious but arguably more important day-to-day work, done in the trenches by people who have dedicated themselves to helping others. Like, for example, the folks at the Women's Housing Coalition. You may not see them making "news" every day, but they're out there doing their part. Here, Bmore's Sam Hopkins goes behind the scenes to learn more.

Federal Hill is known as a destination neighborhood for young, plugged-in Baltimoreans seeking a robust bar scene and chic urban living. That reputation, however, is not without its costs. Recent developments highlight a growing tension between those who see the neighborhood as an entertainment hub and those who would prefer a quieter pace. Here, Bmore's Amy McNeal takes a look at what both sides have to say.

Back in April we brought you the story of what's happening on the East Monument "Main Street," one of Baltimore's less heralded commercial strips. Today, in partnership with WYPR's The Signal, we present a companion piece: an audio feature that allows you to hear directly from some of the folks featured in the original article as they discuss their life and business.

For more than three decades the House of Ruth has served as a safe haven and resource for domestic violence victims in Baltimore. So, what are batterers doing there? Learning the skills they need to change their behavior for good thanks to new approaches at the center's Abuser Intervention Program. Bmore's Dan Collins went behind the scenes to learn more.

"Main Street." What does that mean, really? It's as much an idea as a place, as much a goal for which to strive as a set of storefronts. Baltimore has a dozen or more Main Streets, each with its own unique character and its own set of challenges. We visited one of the lesser-known examples -- East Monument Street -- to learn more about its history and what's happening there today.

As a city of neighborhoods, Baltimore's independent food markets add an atmosphere and appeal that trumps standard, big-name grocery stores. Baltimore's small grocers abide by the philosophy that quality products and the highest level of customer service will make and keep them neighborhood mainstays.